Rel Deven
| Rel Deven | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Realm: | United Kingdom of Ahlissa |
| Government | |
| Authority: | Prince Carwend of House Cranden |
| Government: | semi-Independent Principality |
| Alignment: | Neutral |
| Demographics | |
| Population: | 29,400 |
| Races: | Humans, voadkyn, elves |
| Languages: | Common, Old Oeridian |
| Groups | |
| Religions: | Boccob, Zilchus, Beory |
Rel Deven is a city of the United Kingdom of Ahlissa. It is one of the three Aerdy "Cities of Enlightenment", the others being Rel Mord (now capital of the Kingdom of Nyrond) and Rel Astra (now of the Solnor Compact).
History
[edit | edit source]After the Greyhawk Wars, the demon-seeing Duke Szeffrin, ruling what now remains of Almor, hemmed the city in from the north, while the conniving Prince Reydrich, in the city of Zelradton, made Rel Deven inaccessible from the south. This changed with Szeffrin's disappearance and the founding of the United Kingdom of Ahlissa, which has opened up trade to and from the city.
Geography and climate
[edit | edit source]Prince Carwend claims the lands south of the Harp River along with 20 or so lesser Cranden nobles, the Cranden Conclave. To its east are the westernmost lands of House Naelax. Between the Harp River and the Adri Forest are the lands of many minor Princes of little distinction. The Bonewood forms the border between the Principality of Rel Deven and the Principality of Ahlissa.
Rel Deven is the only sizable city in these lands.
People
[edit | edit source]Rel Deven and its surroundings are the last redoubt of House Cranden, which once ruled all of the Great Kingdom.
Population
[edit | edit source]Rel Deven's population is extremely varied. An enclave of voadkyn, exiles from the Bonewood, now dwell within Beory's garden-temple and form part of the city's military. Some 600 human soldiers from the Thelwood serve in the military as well. A few woodelves, members of a tiny Thelwood clan, have come to dwell in Rel Deven, bringing with them their silver-streaked elven cats.[1]
The Eldritch Lords are an order of wizards based in this city, as well as the blue-robed stonemages who study the city's glowstones.
Religion
[edit | edit source]Only temples of lawful neutral, true neutral, and chaotic neutral deities are officially permitted to exist in Rel Deven. Of these, Boccob, Zilchus, and Beory are the most important. Unofficially, a number of shrines to neutral good and neutral evil deities exist in the city. The shrine to Pelor operates fairly openly, while the shrine to Nerull is much more secretive. Hidden away in towers, spires, and crypts are priests of Rao, Joramy, and Incabulos [2].
Many in Rel Deven take to strange superstitions and exaggerated versions of common faiths. The Cult of the Stones worships the glowstones that protect the city's perimeter, crediting them with prophetic abilities. There are also cultists of Zilchus who worship coins.[1]
Government
[edit | edit source]Prince Carwend shares governance over and income from Rel Deven with four brothers and cousins, and none can be said to be the sole ruler. Each has a primary sphere of influence, including the city treasury, military, guilds, and administration. However, Carwend is the acknowledged head of the government.[1]
Economy
[edit | edit source]With the Greyhawk Wars, particularly the destruction of Chathold, the economy of the whole area suffered as the early season Windmarch fairs that had sustained trade in the area stopped.[1] This depressed the local economy until Coldeven of 591 CY, when Overking Xavener declared a "Windmarch of Ahlissa" to strengthen trade within his empire. Merchants from Rel Deven and Hexpools would migrate to Kalstrand and then further still.
Military
[edit | edit source]A dozen glowstones said to have been created by the archmage Schandor himself guard the walls of the city. These glowing, roughly 2'-diameter flying orbs seem to be impervious to all damage and can, if needed, vanish into other planes to escape their attackers. The glow is bright enough to be seen by day, and are said to glow brighter when the city is faced with danger, such as an invading army. There are eight above the city wall, two above city hall, and two more wandering the city, appearing in unpredictable locations. They can perform such feats as deflecting all missile attacks against the city and greatly reducing the efficacy of magical attacks. When the city was besieged by forces of South Province in 531 CY the glowstones caused the arrows of the defenders to glow blue and strike their targets unerringly.[1]
As mentioned above, some 100 voadkyn troops and some 600 human Thelwood troops help guard the city.
The Knight Protectors of the Great Kingdom who were formerly stationed in Almor are now stationed in Rel Deven.
References
[edit | edit source]Notes
[edit | edit source]Citations
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c d e Ivid the Undying (1995), p.138.
- ↑ Ivid the Undying (1995), p.139.
Bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Holian, Gary. "Sorcerous Societies of the Flanaess." Oerth Journal #3. Council of Greyhawk, 1996.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA. Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Sargent, Carl. Ivid the Undying. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995. Published online. PDF by William Allman with maps. Original RTF archived:Wizards.com. WGR7 or WGRx